Manila, Philippines - The alleged brains behind the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam Janet Lim-Napoles has been transferred from Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta Rosa, Laguna to the Ospital ng Makati on Monday evening, March 31, 2014 to undergo operation to remove a tumor found in her uterus.

Napoles has been escorted by Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Six (6) vehicles were part of the convoy, including two ambulances.

Napoles has been detained at the Fort Sto. Domingo since 2013 for the illegal detention of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

Last February 26, Napoles underwent check-up at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH) after complaining abdominal pain and menstrual bleeding in November 2013.

The doctors at PNP-GH said they found a mass in Napoles' uterus but her condition is "not life threatening."

On March 21, Napoles together with her legal counsel went to the Makati Regional Trial Court and personally appealed that she be allowed to undergo surgery and hospital confinement for the same reason.

On March 28, Makati Regional Trial Court granted the petition of Napoles for hospital treatment. Though she had wanted to be confined at St Luke's Medical Center in Taguig but the court only allowed her at the Ospital ng Makati.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) officially released today, March 31, 2014 the list of examinees for the April 6, 2014 Civil Service Exam - Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) with room and school Assignment per CSC Regional Office.

In an advisory, CSC said that Examinees of the April 2014 Career Service Examination who will take their examination may now check their room assignment online.

Examination, Recruitment and Placement Office further advised that only those Civil Service Commission Regional Offices (CSCROs) with complete data have corresonding list of examinees that can be found on CSC website.

Should the CSCRO where you filed your application is not available, or you have difficulty in accessing the link, you may contact your respective CSCRO concerned. A complete directory of CSCROs is available at the CSC website www.csc.gov.ph.

The 2014 Civil Service Exam is subdivided into Career Service Professional Examination and Career Service Sub-Professional Examination.

Exam is administered every year to establish a register of eligibles from which certification and appointment to the second and first level positions in the civil service shall be made, provided said eligibles meet the qualifications and other requirements of the positions.

Manila, Philippines - The much anticipated summer station ID of the country's biggest television network, ABS-CBN has been officially released on Sunday, March 30, 2014.

The 2014 Summer Station ID has a title "PINASmile: Masayang Muli ang Kwento ng Summer Natin," which aims to promote the Philippines as a unique travel destination that takes pride in the beauty of each region, the country's colorful culture and, of course, the stories behind the unique and infectious smiles of Pinoys.

"Filipinos will always choose to smile amidst hardships; we find happiness even in the small things. We know how to be grateful and remain positive. We believe in the goodness of others. Indeed, despite the calamities that severely damaged our country, the Filipino optimism shines through.", ABS-CBN said in a statement.

The team behind the Summer Station ID 2014 believes that genuine smiles can never be scripted, so the team made the Summer Station ID's goal to bring out raw and authentic happiness from the simple Pinoys.

The video showed Kapamilya stars and news department personalities in various parts of the country, armed with a camera in seeking genuine smiles among residents there.

They were asked to immortalize these blissful moments with their camera lenses as they immerse themselves with the locals of the different places they visited such as the Igorots of Baguio, Aetas of Mt. Pinatubo and Ivatans of Batanes.

The theme song of the station ID was performed by the popular love team Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

The lyrics was written by Team CCM with music composed, arranged and produced by Jumbo "Bojam" de Belen and Timothy "Thyro" Alfaro. The music video and summer SID TV campaign is directed by Paolo Emmanuel Ramos and Peewee Gonzales.

Watch the official and full video of the ABS-CBN Summer Station ID 2014 "PINASmile":

Manila, Philippines - The complete list of winners for the the country’s most prestigious beauty pageant, Binibining Pilipinas this 2014 were announced during the grand coronation night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 30, 2014.

There are 40 contestants who showed their best with 5 crowns at stake: Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas-International, Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism, Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational, and Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental.

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through TV Patrol special report on March 25, 2014 proposed alternative jobs for the newly licensed and unemployed Filipino nurses rather than wait for job openings in medical facilities.

Based on data from the DOLE, around 300,000 nurses are currently unemployed and an additional of 30,000 graduated on the nursing course this March 2014.

More than 10,000 nursing graduates hurdled the licensure examination in December 2013. They are expected to join the growing number of unemployed nurses in the country.

According to Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) President Arlene Navarro, most of the Filipino nursing graduates can't find jobs easily in abroad due to lack of experience.

Korina Sanchez asked Career Coach Dr. Balita on how we can solve the problem and he said: "There's no over supply, there's under utilization of nurses."

40 gorgeous Filipina women compete for the honor and privilege of representing the Philippines to the world in the most prestigious competitions of both beauty and grace.

Watch the Coronation Night of Bb. Pilipinas through the livestream feed [ Update: Video has been removed by the owner. We encourage our readers to check Bb. Pilipinas telecast on ABS-CBN Channel 2 now.]

This year’s staging of the Binibining Pilipinas is also made more meaningful, as it displays not only beautiful faces but beautiful, golden hearts. The candidates supported the Gawad Kalinga’s movement towards environmental and social engineering by painting houses in the GK Escopa Village. Pushing the goal further, the ladies also held educational activities with the children in the community.

Binibining Pilipinas 2014 goes even bigger as it ventures beyond 50 years today. Following the back to back victories of Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner Up Ariella Arida, Miss Supranational 2013 Johanna Datul and Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, much anticipation is in the air for the next batch of Binibinis who will represent the Philippines in the world’s stage.

Star-studded coronation night today is made special with the participation of Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela and Russian Pop Superstar Emin. Gabriela is slated to participate in judging the pageant and will crown the next batch of Binibining Pilipinas queens, while Emin will be performing his hits and serenading the candidates.

Local celebrities Xian Lim and Anne Curtis and beauty queens Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj are hosting the event.

ABS-CBN will also air the delayed telecast of Binibining Pilipinas on Sunday’s Best program tonight.

Manila, Philippines - PLDT, the country's leading telecommunications service provider advised its customers (HOME DSL/HOME Fibr subscribers) on Friday, March 28, 2014 the possible impact to data and voice services of the recent fiber breaks in one of their international cable facilities.

"One of the major international undersea cable systems in the region -- the Asia Pacific Cable Network (APCN) -- recently suffered two fiber breaks in the areas between Taiwan-Japan and China-Korea.", PLDT said in an advisory.

"This has impacted on telecoms traffic in a large area of the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines. As a result, this may affect your data service.", PLDT added.

In an advisory, PLDT said its engineers are working with the company's international partners to normalize service as soon as possible.

The APCN consortium that manages the cable system is now undertaking repairs and expects to finish in mid-April.

In the meantime, PLDT has successfully re-routed voice and data traffic to two other international cable systems -- the Asia-America Gateway and the Asia Submarine Cable Express.

PLDT is expected to update customers regarding further developments.

On Twitter Philippines, some netizens pushed a trend to express dismay to the PLDT DSL/Home service which they claim their internet connection slows down. Some users react to the trend as some tweets contain foul languages.

PLDT’s fiber network, which includes around 7,200 kilometers of international submarine fiber and over 4,000 kilometers of domestic undersea fiber cables, is the country’s most extensive high-speed data transmission and distribution network.

The PLDT Group has continued to invest in its fiber optic network to reach over 78,000 kilometers, far ahead of competition.

The PLDT group's combined broadband subscriber base stood at 3.4 million. Smart Broadband Inc had a wireless broadband subscriber base of over 1.9 million, of which 1.4 million were on prepaid service, while Sun Cellular had 545,000.

PLDT’s fixed broadband subscribers increased by eight percent, bringing the total count to 962,000, representing 47 percent of the fixed line subscriber base.

Manila, Philippines - "I will not let peace be snatched from my people again."

This was the key message of President of the Philippines, Benigno 'Pnoy' Aquino III during the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro Basic Law on Thursday afternoon, March 27, 2014 at Kalayaan Grounds, Malacañang Palace.

PNoy emphasized that the agreement stands as a testament to how far trust and earnestness can move humanity forward and it will become an instrument in ending conflict with the Muslim Mindanao.

“When the Bangsamoro people felt that they had no redress within the system, they then tried to address their grievances from outside of the system. We must therefore give them a significant boost up, so that they can catch up: If we are to truly address the root causes of conflict, we must close the gap between the region and the rest of Filipino society,” Aquino said.

As the Bangsamoro matures, it will also serve as the gateway to trade, investment, and cultural exchanges within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area and its environs—igniting a virtuous cycle of security, development, and equitable progress for the peoples of the entire region.

Aquino expects the deliberations in Congress to be characterized by a sincere desire to improve on the Bangsamoro Basic Law—and not by self-interest that only aims to perpetuate an untenable status quo.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon on Friday said that the Bangsamoro Basic Law must "supremely respect" the Philippine Constitution, as he vowed to take the forefront in congressional efforts to preserve and guard the nation's sovereignty amid the establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity in southern Mindanao.

With the Bangsamoro Basic Law, Drilon acknowledged that questions on the Constitution will take center stage: "While we must give the Constitution its most liberal application, we have to make sure that the basic law must be a unifying and integrating legislation, and not a divisive one."

The senator believes that their vigilance on the issue is their due responsibility as citizens and lawmakers of the republic: "Whether Moro or Christian, we are all Filipinos. And therefore, it is our moral and legal obligation to preserve our country as one. And that is going to be my guiding principle at this matter."

Drilon urged his colleagues to take an active role in the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and passionately debate on the most pertinent issues about the peace accord.

The Bangsamoro will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that has suffered from decades of poverty, corruption, and conflict.

WATCH: President Aquino delivered his message during the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro [ Video courtesy of RTVMalacanang]

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
At the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro

[Delivered at Malacañan Palace on March 27, 2014]

Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

In August of 2011, I flew to Japan along with six members of my Cabinet and Marvic Leonen, who was then chair of the government peace panel, to meet with our brothers Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Mohagher Iqbal, and their companions from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. This move took many by surprise. There were those who reacted with intense skepticism followed by criticism: The MILF, after all, was a group that had long been locked in combat with our troops. The most vocal of these naysayers expressed tremendous criticism, assailing my integrity, alleging that I had ulterior motives, and casting doubt on my administration’s commitment to transparency. Some asked: Were we not granting the MILF undue leverage in the negotiations? Of what significance was a face-to-face meeting in ending an insurgency that had raged and festered for two generations?

Even as a congressman, I had often wondered how two panels, representing intense antagonists in a decades-long conflict, could be expected to possess the modicum of trust needed to advance the peace process. As a member of the opposition, little did I know that only a few years later, upon taking office as President, I would be the one tasked to solve this dilemma. When the negotiations with the MILF had reached a very serious deadlock, I decided that the time had come to personally reach out and try to achieve that modicum of trust that could advance the peace process. I asked to meet Chairman Murad so that we could talk in an earnest manner, and our long-time ally Japan graciously and instantly agreed to host our meeting.

Talking personally with Chairman Murad, I felt that he, like me, was prepared to come to the table not as an adversary, but as a friend who shared a singular aspiration for peace. After all, if both parties approached the table asking only how to win, or how to give up the least, then there could never be a meeting of the minds. His points made it apparent that neither he nor any of his companions were out to consolidate power or to perpetuate a feudal and oppressive system. They were seeking fair and equal representation in institutions—and most of all, they wanted peace. Their proposals marked a real difference from the failed experiment that was ARMM, and gave one reason to hope that the talks will progress, and that lasting peace will finally be attained.

And so the seeds of trust were planted, and consequently nourished by the hard work of all stakeholders. In October of 2012, a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed, providing a roadmap and solidifying the trust that the panels had for each other. Communities on the ground—whether Muslim, Christian, or Lumad—likewise bought into the dream of consequent development for the region. At the forefront were the panels and their mediator, who hammered out annex after annex, aware that transforming our ideals into tangible realities required consummate attention to the details.

And just as this chapter of positive engagement with the MILF began in a foreign land, in a country that shares with the Filipino people the aspiration of regional peace, stability, and harmony, so too did this current chapter in our saga unfold. On the 25th of January, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the final Annex on Normalization was jointly signed by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Today, we will witness the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

We thank the members of both panels: The sincerity of Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and her predecessor Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, permeated throughout the peace process. [Applause] MILF Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal likewise set the stage for fair and sincere negotiations. [Applause] The new facilitator in the person of the Honorable Tengku Ghafar: Your fair and steady hand was a key factor in the success of this process; our country thanks you. I also reiterate my thanks to Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who exhibited genuine leadership for his people, and Secretary Ging Deles, who I presume will allow herself some well-deserved rest before she braces herself for the next challenge. [Applause] You can have tomorrow off. [Laughter] Ging, in all seriousness, your decades of work as a peace advocate have now borne their sweetest fruit. I assure you, now that this Comprehensive Agreement will be signed, there will be less stress between us. [Laughter] Let me also thank Governor Mujiv Hataman of the ARMM, [applause] who has demonstrated what can be done through good leadership. From the outset, we shared the view that the system as presently crafted is susceptible to abuse by the wrong leaders. He has worked for true transformation that lends itself to permanence. And now, after all his achievements, he willingly steps aside. That is the sort of leader we need: Focused on the other, and not on himself. [Applause]

We thank everyone whose faith never faltered in this journey. To the people of Indonesia and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: We truly appreciate your solidarity. As a member of the International Monitoring Team, Indonesia, along with Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, and previously the European Union and Libya, were integral in creating the peaceful environment that proved conducive to the negotiations. [Applause] Our people extend their gratitude to the members of the IMT. We also thank the International Contact Group: We reiterate our gratitude to Japan, whose graciousness proved crucial in winning a once-elusive trust between the Philippine government and the MILF; the United Kingdom, whose experience in resolving conflict provided a shining example as we embarked on our own journey; other member-countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey; and the NGO-members of the ICG–thank you for supporting peace in the Philippines. [Applause] To the members of the Independent Commission on Policing: Canada, Australia, and again, Japan—thank you for your help. [Applause] We thank the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which served as an observer to these talks. We likewise thank all our partners who have aided us throughout this process: The United States through USAID; Japan through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD); Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the United States once more, and the European Union through their contributions to the Mindanao Trust Fund; Australia and New Zealand for the Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities (FASTRAC); and Australia once more for the OPAPP-DFAT Technical Assistance Facility and the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao. We also thank the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and again the European Union for the assistance that you have extended to us. You all have the enduring gratitude of the Filipino people. We will never forget the support you have given, and continue to give us.

And of course, the Filipino people will forever be indebted to Malaysia, [applause] whose presence illuminated every step of the peace process. We have the leadership of His Excellency, Prime Minister Najib Razak to thank for this. The role that Malaysia played in forging this agreement is especially significant, given that the Bangsamoro forms the nexus of bloodlines that links Malaysia and the Philippines. And as we looked to the shared history of the Malay people for kinship and inspiration, so too will we forge a future of shared stability, prosperity, and inclusiveness through our bonds of shared success. Together, we have set an example for the entire world: This Agreement stands as a testament to how far trust and earnestness can move humanity forward; it shows how righteousness, reason, and good will are the mightiest of instruments in ending conflict; it proves that the search for common ground is infinitely more productive than hegemonic ambition.

If we sustain the momentum for peace, by 2016, the MILF will have shed its identity as a military force, and transformed itself into a political entity, casting its stake in democracy by vying for seats in the Bangsamoro elections. The Bangsamoro shall form a perimeter of vigilance against the spread of extremism; it shall act as a bridge of moderation among the great faiths of the various constituencies in ASEAN. From this shared security, we shall enhance the era of prosperity that is dawning upon our region, and harness its energies towards creating a regime of opportunity and inclusivity where no one is left behind. As the Bangsamoro matures, it shall serve as the gateway to trade, investment, and cultural exchanges within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area and its environs—igniting a virtuous cycle of security, development, and equitable progress for the peoples of the entire region.

This is our vision for the Bangsamoro–and just as the Agreement we are signing today did not appear magically out of thin air, so too will our next steps have to involve the same trust and long-term thinking that brought us to this shared triumph. At this point, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is hard at work in drafting a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is equitable, practical, and empowering, and which serves the interests of the entire nation. It is a law that will have to pass my personal muster as a President pledged to do justice to all, before it is submitted to Congress. My administration will go all out to forge a principled consensus for enduring security and prosperity; I expect the deliberations in Congress to be characterized by a sincere desire to improve on the Bangsamoro Basic Law—and not by self-interest that only aims to perpetuate an untenable status quo. [Applause]

Our mission now is to draft and pass this law so that it will be presented to the people for ratification in a plebiscite. Our goal: to have the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in place by 2015, when it will serve as the interim Bangsamoro government until the elections in 2016. In this manner, the people themselves will turn the tide of strife into an era of peace and equitable progress; they themselves will prove that the democratic space is vast enough to address every Filipino’s grievances and concerns.

We thus call on everyone to widen the avenues for trust and positive engagement; let us cast aside past prejudices, and contribute to the atmosphere of optimism that has, for the first time in a long while, become prevalent in Muslim Mindanao. It should be the paramount concern of all people of goodwill to do their part: Let us exchange our bullets for ripening fruit, our cynicism for hope, our histories of sorrow for a future of harmony, peace, and prosperity.

We must remember that, for so long, Muslim Mindanao has been left in the margins. The amount of attention that the national government granted it ebbed with the electoral cycle, and this broken system was exploited by the powerful few who lorded it over everyone else. For generations, fellow Filipinos in the region were embroiled in a cycle of poverty, injustice, and violence. The huge imbalance between Muslim Mindanao and the rest of the country served to breed resentment, and consequently insurgency. When the Bangsamoro people felt that they had no redress within the system, they then tried to address their grievances from outside of the system. We must therefore give them a significant boost up, so that they can catch up: [Applause] If we are to truly address the root causes of conflict, we must close the gap between the region and the rest of Filipino society.

I have to state that I fully empathize with our Muslim countrymen. Like them, my family experienced how impossible it was to achieve redress of legitimate grievances, as we were oppressed by a dictatorial government.

What is being presented before us now is a path that can lead to a permanent change in the status quo in Muslim Mindanao. But as with all change, its success depends on our continuous vigilance. We must admit that there are those who will champion the status quo to preserve themselves in positions of power and wealth. Maintaining this requires holding back the majority, for any sign of individual or collective advancement is a threat. Maintaining fear and insecurity allows them to prey on the entrepreneur whose success is rewarded by kidnapping; the farmer who improved the rough land only to have it grabbed; the student whose very promising future is cut short by a bomb; the pensioner who, seeking security, falls prey to the unscrupulous pyramid scammer; or those mired in desperate times and desperate situations who fall victim to false prophets from either side. These people ask, and have been asking, the legitimate question: What did we do to deserve this? The simple answer is: You don’t; no one does. My father taught me: If you tolerate the abuse of the rights of one, it sets the stage for the abuse of your own rights. The only correct action then is to stand up for your brother whose rights have been abused; otherwise, we will only be condemning ourselves to suffer the same fate. [Applause]

The majority who deserve an opportunity to improve their lot in life, who stand to benefit from the onset of peace, stand at the crossroads with us: On one hand, will we be held back by an untenable status quo? Or, together, will we as an entire nation rise and prosper? To those who will not join us, I ask: Are you really that confident that we will have another singular opportunity like the one we have today? Do you really think that the confluence of factors such that exists today will happen again—when the Filipino people and their government are committed to redressing a historic injustice; where the international community has thrown its full support behind the achievement of peace; and when we have already fixed an electoral system that was designed to subvert the sovereign will of the people?

May this also stand as a warning to those who wish to derail our path to a final, lasting peace—those who wish to sow divisiveness for self-interest, and those who continue to wield arms to pursue their own agendas: So many people have suffered for so long; so many of our stakeholders have worked so hard to arrive at this point. I will not let peace be snatched from my people again. [Applause] Not now, when we have already undertaken the most difficult and most significant steps to achieve it. Those who want to test the resolve of the state will be met with a firm response based on righteousness and justice—as we demonstrated in Zamboanga City. [Applause]

I have always said that being President is not the easiest of jobs; the fight to change the status quo is even more daunting. I do not want to just take my turn on a merry-go-round that goes nowhere but round and round—to perpetuate or even exacerbate existing problems. I would rather ride the horse that actually leads to a definite destination. And in this journey, there will always be obstacles to national transformation, just as there will always be those who seek to disrupt any sort of momentum that we have gained. At times it seems as if the selfish few can fatally hamper the future of so many. There are, however, days like this: Days when our collective philosophy of sincere consensus-building yields the most enduring of results; days when we can stand witness to the hard work of our people; days when we can be filled with hope despite all the challenges that remain. There are days when we can find time to reflect on what we have achieved in less than four years: In this case, the end to decades of conflict, and the beginning of development and prosperity for the Bangsamoro. Today, we have proven that not only can our people dream again; but in fact, we are now beginning to achieve our dreams.

We have exhibited tremendous trust and commitment, which has gotten us this far. Today, let us commit to being more energetic advocates of this rightful path.

In the coming months and years, let us exert even greater effort into making the path of peace–more inclusive, inviting more to join this advocacy and to contribute to the peaceful and progressive future that we are envisioning.

If our goals as a nation are fulfilled, my brothers, Al Haj Murad, Mohagher Iqbal, and myself can all look forward to that one day in the not-so-distant future, when we will all sit back and enjoy a quiet sunset in Mindanao [applause]—perhaps with the company of friends such as Prime Minister Najib Razak. [Laughter and applause] That day, we will look back to the 27th of March 2014, and allow ourselves a little pride. For now, more work needs to be done, and I look forward to building a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive Bangsamoro with all of you.

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) released results of Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) for School Year SY 2014-2015.

REYNARDS A. PAGAR, of Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School in Bontoc, Mountain Province, Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), topped the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP) Exam given in September 2013.

In her report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon said that the Top 101 examinees of the qualifying examinations that were administered by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute DOST-SEI on 22 September 2013 will be awarded scholarship under the CMWSP. There were 209 examinees who took the qualifying exam.

Secretary Baldoz, who is Chairman of the OWWA Board of Trustees, congratulated the successful qualifiers. She advised the qualifiers to consider taking up courses in the field of science and technology that would help them land a job immediately.

The CMWSP is a scholarship program established under Republic Act 8042 which grants educational financial assistance to deserving migrant workers and/or their immediate dependents who intend to pursue courses in the field of science and technology identified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Scholars under the program receive assistance of Php60,000.00 per school year.

Aside from the CMWSP, OWWA offers other scholarship and incentive programs, such as the OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (ODSP), Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), Skills Upgrading Program for Seafarers (SUP), information technology program, and other vocational-technical courses.

Here's the complete list of passers of OWWA Scholarship (CMWSP) for SY 2014-2015:

Manila, Philippines - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced on Tuesday the top 200 qualifiers (complete list of passers) for Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Exam for SY 2014-2015.

DEANNE ROCHELLE LONEZA ABDAO of the Philippine Science High School-Quezon City, National Capital Region, topped the OWWA EDSP exam given in September 2013.

In her report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Chairman of the OWWA Board of Trustees, OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon said that the top 200 examinees of the qualifying examinations that was administered by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute DOST-SEI last 22 September 2013 will be awarded scholarship by OWWA under its Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP). There were 4,476 dependents of member-OFWs who took the examinations, including the 334 dependents of member-OFWs from the Middle East. The examinations were conducted simultaneously in Manila, Batangas, Pangasinan, Cavite, Davao City, Laguna, NCR, Iligan City, Tagbilaran City, Naga City, Iligan City, Negros Occidental, Butuan City, Bataan, Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Secretary Baldoz congratulated the top qualifiers and looked forward to seeing them graduate with honors. She said that the number of awardees under the EDSP was increased this year to 200 after many years in pursuance to the directive of the board to give opportunities to more deserving dependents of OWWA members to take up courses in the field of science and technology where the “in-demand” jobs are. She added that she was pleased to note that 32 from the Middle East landed in the Top 20 and that the number of examinees from the region has increased every year.

According to Dimzon, OWWA scholars under this program are provided with a maximum education assistance of Php60,000.00 per school year, for bachelor degree courses in any college or university of their choice.

OWWA takes pride in its scholars who had finished their bachelor degrees with honors. In 2012, twenty-eight (28) scholars graduated with either Magna Cum Laude or Cum Laude. In 2013, two graduated as summa cum laude, seven, magna cum laude and 20, cum laude. OWWA scholars landed in the Top 10 of licensure examinations held last year, specifically in Engineering, Accountancy, and Nursing. Warren Stanley Dalisay, an OWWA scholar who finished Medical Technology in UP Manila, made it to the West Point Academy last year.

Manila, Philippines - MYX, the no. 1 local music channel named the winners of Music Awards 2014 on Wednesday, March 26 in a star-studded ceremony held at SM Aura Premier's Samsung Hall in Taguig City.

Gloc 9 and collaborator Rico Blanco led the winners with four trophies, including top prize Favorite Music Video, for "Magda." Sarah Geronimo, meanwhile, won two awards, including Favorite Artist of the year.

The MYX Magna Award, one of the biggest recognitions of the night, was given to Parokya ni Edgar, a band 20 years strong in the industry.

Here is the complete list of winners at the MYX Music Awards 2014:

Favorite Music Video: “Magda” by Gloc9 feat. Rico Blanco

Favorite Artist: Sarah Geronimo

Magna Awardee: Parokya ni Edgar

Favorite Female Artist: Yeng Constantino

Favorite male Artist: Bamboo

Favorite Group Winner: Parokya ni Edgar

Favorite Celebrity Guest Appearance in a Music Video: Kim Chiu for “Discolamon” by Banda ni Kleggy

Favorite New Artist: KZ Tandingan

Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ: Abra

Favorite Mellow Video: “Magkabilang Mundo” by Jireh Lim

Favorite Rock Video: “Carousel” by Bamboo

Favorite Urban Video: “Magda” by Gloc9 feat. Rico Blanco

Favorite Remake: “It Take a Man and a Woman” by Sarah Geronimo

Favorite Media Soundtrack: “Carousel” by Bamboo

Favorite Collaboration: “Magda” by Gloc 9 feat. Rico Blanco

Favorite Song: “Magda” by Gloc9 feat. Rico Blanco

Favorite International Video: Roar by Katy Perry

Favorite K-POP Video: “Wolf” by Exo

The 2014 MYX Music Awards also has a repeat telecast on March 28 at 7:30 p.m., March 29 at 2:30 p.m., March 30 at 10:30 a.m. and March 31 at 1 a.m.

Manila, Philippines - As Filipinos prepare to join the Earth Hour 2014 on Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening, Senator Loren Legarda today emphasized the importance of the campaign which highlights "small acts can create big, significant changes."

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change, and Environment and Natural Resources, said that oftentimes people are overwhelmed with the gargantuan task of protecting the environment, without realizing that the small acts ignite greater action and result in significant achievements.

"The Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The following year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched the international Earth Hour. More than 400 cities in 35 countries, including the Philippines, joined the campaign. Now, more than 7,000 cities are involved. We only have to take that one important step, which is to take action, to save and protect our planet," said Legarda.

According to the WWF, the Earth Hour campaign started by encouraging cities and communities to turn off their lights for one hour during the designated date of Earth Hour. Since then, homes and communities went beyond the hour or have taken greater action towards the protection of the environment.

Legarda noted that the Philippines has been regarded as an Earth Hour Hero Country for registering a high number of participating towns and cities and for its staunch support to the campaign.

In 2009, 647 cities and towns in the Philippines and an estimated 15 million Filipinos participated in the Earth Hour, saving 611 Megawatt-Hours of electricity during the one-hour period.

In 2013, records from the Visayan Electric Company in Cebu alone showed a reduction of 11 MW during the time of the event.

"The Earth Hour campaign shows us what each citizen can do. It tells us that every individual is capable of protecting our planet. Small acts cannot be underestimated because these small acts, when put together, create big change. Saving on electricity, using low carbon technologies, conserving water, eating local food, planting more trees, these are just some of the simple ways by which we can significantly contribute to protecting our Earth. The results of Earth Hour are clear enough to show what people can do when we work together," Legarda stressed.

Manila, Philippines - ABS-CBN business unit head and director Laurenti Dyogi officially announced on Thursday night, March 27 that Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Season 5 will be called 'PBB All In'. The brand new season of the successful reality show of the Kapamilya network will be launched after Easter or this April 2014.

Dyogi made announcement thru the first ever Twitter Hangout for PBB5. The director of the show also said that audition season is officially closed.

PBB said that a total of 33,064 aspiring housemates auditioned this season with 11,265 submitted online audition videos.

PBB is still in the process of final casting for PBB All In. Official number of housemates for PBB ALL IN will be trimmed down to 15 only.

This is what we know so far Taongbayan. This season is called PBB ALL IN.

We will launch after Easter and will have 15 Housemates #PBB5
— Pinoy Big Brother (@PBBabscbn) March 27, 2014

Dyogi said that PBB team will have Twitter Hangout every Thursday to announce new information. They will announce also which TFC territories will air PBB Season 5. In addition, fans of the show can catch PBB streaming on ABSCBN mobile plus other exclusive videos on iWanTV.

As part of the franchise, this season will introduce two online companion shows and will retain Pinoy Big Brother Über.

"PBB All In" will be hosted by the show's mainstays, Toni Gonzaga and Bianca Gonzalez, John Prats and Robi Domingo. They will be joined by one new host, the Big Winner of Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited Slater Young.

Don't miss the launch of PBB All -IN this summer after Easter. PBB will have 100 days of fun for PBB Season 5.

Like Us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to receive more updates for 'PBB All In'. You may also subscribe to our RSS Feeds.

WeChat, the no. 1 social mobile app in the Philippines announces the exclusive offer for its users in time to celebrate Lazada’s 2nd anniversary today, March 26, 2014. The number one online shopping mall, Lazada Philippines wishes to thank its customers for supporting their platform offering a wide array of products—from consumer electronics and fashion pieces to home and living must-owns.

Get exclusive deals on awesome items like 7" Android tablet only available to WeChat subscribers for only Php 999! The discounted price of tablets is for the 1,000 users who are following Lazada Philippines Official Account on WeChat. Each chosen user will be able to get hold of the gadget which is originally priced at P2,499.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to follow Lazada Philippines on WeChat:

1. In the search tab, type Lazada_PH

2. Follow LazadaPH Official Account

3. After following the page, you will receive a message from Lazada_PH.

4. Click on “View All”, scroll down and click on “Read more”. You will be redirected to Lazada-WeChat tablets page.

WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.

WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.

Manila, Philippines - Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo wowed the spectators of 5th Pyromusical International Competition last Saturday, March 22, 2014 with her live performance at the event finale held at the SM Mall of Asia along the scenic Manila Bay.

Geronimo sang this year’s anthem “STAR LIFE.”

The International Pyromusical Competition was presented by SM Development Corp. (SMDC). The annual event put on a world-class spectacle of lights and colors staged by some of the world’s leading pyrotechnic experts.

Painting the Manila sky with bursts of vivid color, this year’s winners include: Canada’s Royal Pyrotechnie as grand champion; China’s Liuyang New Year Fireworks as First Runner Up and United Kingdom’s Jubilee Fireworks as Second Runner Up.

Sarah G. Living The Star Life

A successful all-around artist - a captivating singer, a box-office actress and a stunning live performer – Sarah is every bit the epitome of a true star. She is the perfect endorser to champion SMDC’s thrust of giving its buyers the taste of 5-star living.

With all her years in local show business, Sarah has become one of the country’s brightest stars. Her talent and professionalism has kept her at the top of her game; but that she has remained grounded despite all her success truly makes her a role model – indeed one of the good guys.

To step up the campaign to inform all its potential buyers that they can live the life of a star and enjoy luxury living in all SMDC properties, Sarah has already released a new single called “Star Life.”

“I’m thankful that I am part of the SMDC family,” Sarah says. “I’ve always been passionate about music and it is really my first love. So I’m very lucky that I was chosen to be part of SMDC’s music marketing campaign.”

Of the song, Sarah shares, “It has a very positive message and it is very aspirational to those who hear it. When I listen to the song, I am inspired to really try and achieve my goals. I don’t mean just my goals as an artist, but also in contributing to having a good life with my family. I think everyone aspires for that.”

“Make a wish and your dreams will come alive; Oh it's the good life, by the good guys / Have your star life, you'll be sky high / Be who you are, feel like a star,” the song’s lyrics go.

As the theme for the campaign, its message is clear: The time is now to reach for your dreams, and with SMDC, your dreams can easily become a reality.

Sarah adds, “The song also says – It’s a space where stars like you and I align… We all know life is a little harder here in our country, but everyone wants to be able to provide a better life for his or her family, especially a quality place to call home. So, it’s all very ideal…”

Both SMDC and Sarah believe that every Filipino deserves a shot of living the life of a star.

“As the lyrics also say - Be who you are, live like a star… You don’t have to be a millionaire to be able to have a good life or live a star life. Living a good life with your loved ones, with your family does not mean you need to be living in a super expensive mansion. That is why I am so proud of SMDC, you’re sure that the homes you invest in are quality living spaces that are affordable.”

Sarah is still young but even she has begun thinking about her future, thriving career aside. For this reason, she also encourages her followers to always keep in mind that it never hurts to be thinking and planning ahead.

“Having your own place to live does not necessarily mean you are leaving your family behind, or that you want to be away from them. People have different reasons for wanting their own place. Some want to experience an independent life; while others are more interested on investing. The purpose really varies,” Sarah notes.

In fact, for Sarah, her future plans involve making the most of her earnings and putting it where it counts.

“Hopefully, I can make investments and turn it into a business by renting out the units.” she says.

“If I were to choose which SMDC property I would like to have, it would be Fern at Grass Residences, ‘cause it’s so close to my work place, ABS-CBN. There’s also Wind Residences in Tagaytay. I think it’s the perfect place to unwind, relax and chill out.”

Sarah delivered a wonderful performance of the SMDC “Star Life” during the closing exhibition of the 5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition. Apart from that, she also stars in the SMDC Star Life music video that was released last February 28 and, by now, already has over 156,000 views on TheOfficialSMDC YouTube channel.

As the face of SMDC’s “Star Life” campaign, Sarah will also grace its billboards, print and TV ads.

Manila, Philippines - The complete results of Polytechnic University of the Philippines College Entrance Test (PUPCET) are now out online. PUP has released the alphabetical list of passers as well as the list of waiting list for AY 2014-2015.

A total of 22,000 graduating high school students took the PUPCET at Sta. Mesa Main Mabini Campus on January 25, 2014 (first batch) and estimated same number of examinees for the second batch of exam on February 15, 2014.

PUP said that the online confirmation will start on MARCH 31, 2014 (Monday). For inquiries, you may call the PUP Admission Services at 716-7832 local 322 or 287.

PUP is composed of 16 colleges and has more than 20 campuses to make education accessible to everyone offering variety of educational choices through more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs. It has also population of 61,253 students, the largest student body and state university in the country.